A late-afternoon fire has destroyed a row of stores at Juapong Factory Junction in the Volta Region, sparking panic among traders and residents.
According to fire personnel, the blaze was first reported to the Akosombo Fire Station at 2:58 p.m. by a resident, Christopher Amanor.
 
Within minutes, a fire tender (DPT482) with a crew of seven officers, led by LF Konotey and ADOII Dormah, was dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters say they were met with a chaotic scene as thick smoke billowed from the roof of the affected shops.
Residents and shop owners had already made desperate attempts to bring the flames under control using buckets of water and sand. Their quick intervention is believed to have prevented the fire from spreading further.
The crew immediately deployed a quick intervention hose and battled the flames for nearly an hour before finally extinguishing the last pockets of fire at 4:08 p.m.
Although no casualties were recorded, traders counted significant losses as goods worth thousands of cedis were destroyed.
Many affected shop owners were seen in tears, lamenting the sudden loss of their livelihood.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established. Investigations have since been launched by the Ghana National Fire Service to determine what sparked the blaze.
Meanwhile, personnel are reminding residents and business operators to adhere strictly to fire safety protocols, especially during the dry season when the risk of outbreaks is higher.
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